The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-24
STRANGE SURGERY.
Cutting Through a Mans Side TO Reach
Diseased Organs.

Cutting iEFHuSb 4 MAN sue 10 hcdSb
Diseased Organs.
Over a year and a half ago, says the
Louisville C0urier-Jou1ual, there was
admitted 70 the male surgical ward
young man, Abraham Bradway, aged
%. and. to all outward appearances, OF
sound health. To the physician in
charge he said he was a consumptive,
having for many years, as he supposed,
been a victim To the ravages of that
disease. His physician, he alleged,
had diagnosed his affection as phthi-
sis pulmonalis, and had treated him
accordingly, but, despite his efforts, no
change in the symptoms was noted.
In addition to this, the tibia of his
right lee was found to be much de-
cayed; so much, in fact, that the phy-
sicians at the hospital were at first
disposed to look upon the entire lower
part Of the limb as dead bone, there
being no flesh at all on that portion of
his leg between the knee and ankle
Joints. This condition had existed,
the young man said, for over four
years, and all treatment he had re-
ceiyed proved fruitless of any good
results.
Shortly after Bradway's admission to
the hospital he began to grow notice
ably worse, and in few weeks was so
emaciated that his own friends failed to
recognize him. and his life was despair
ed of. He had fallen in weight from
1872 to ninety-one pounds, and had re-
ftr-.I To- hinCr CaN-ippr that I ha
sight of food nauSeated him.
From the then existing symptoms
one Of the physicians was led to believe
that instead OF the patient being con
sumptive he was afflicted with empye-
ma. or Il formation OF pus in one of the
cavities of the body. Further investi-
CATION proved that he had been correct
in his diagnosis, and preparations
were at once begun to locate the for
nation.
By means Of a probe it was found to
be in the space between the serous
membrane sac around one of the lungs
and the lung itself. A tube was intro
duced through the cartilage between
the seventh and eighth ribs and the sac
puncturcd. For several days there was
a steady flow of pus through the tube,
and the patient professcd to be grow
inw better 1t was not long, however,
before the state of affairs was an ex-
'ccediHgly delicate and dangerous one,
and owing To the complications exist
ing it was impossible to use the probe
and tube as before. The sac had re-
filed with the fast-forming pus, and as
the space between the scrous mem-
brane and the lung was occupied, the
| heart of the young man WAS pushed
out OF position toward the right side
of the body and the lung so greatly
compressed aS to entirely stop respira-
ton. The situation was indeed alarm
inc, and caused much excitement
among the physicians, who had mani
tested much interest in the case.
As Il de12ticr resort, it was finally
decided to reach the seat Of the trouble
hy cutting through the side of the
/ body.
The young man was informed of
the intentions Of the physicians, and
readily gave his consent. He was
placed under the influence Of the most
powerful am9stheticS, owing to his eX-
tremeiy weakened condition, and sew
ersl inches OF the seventh and eighth
ribs cut away, leaving the terribly dis
tended lungs in full view.
No one OF the internal organs was in
its proper place. The heart was pushed
full up to the right side of the body by
the diseased lungs, and already showed
traces OF similar affection. The
| lungs themselves had been swollen so
that they occupied nearly the entire
thorax. and in few days respiration
would have been totally suspended.
As soon rs the young man was able
to stand the operation, the pus sac was
again punctured and the entire contents
drained therefrom. Over a gallon of
pus and bruised blood was drawn from
his lungs and the sac thoroughly
cleansed. The opening. in his side was
then covered with silver plate, and
the skin brought together over it. A
very light diet was ordered, and for
! several weeks the patient lowered be
/ tween life and death. At the end Of a
month. however, he began 10 improve,
much to the satisfaction OF the attend
ing physician, and a few weeks ago
was able to leave his bed. He now
weighs 40 pounds, eats heartily, and
! is of great assistance around the wards.
| Amputation of MS lee was found not
necessary, and it bc9aQ, to gro~ better
as the empyema disappeared.